Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 2

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 36

PREVIOUS INCARNATION AS VIMALAVĀHANA
Where there
leaflessness, the sole umbrella against heat. was beauty of young women resting in bowers, now there is harshness of sleeping pythons. Where there were sweet sounds of peacocks, cuckoos, etc., now there is the confusion of the harsh sounds of a multitude of ravens moving to and fro. Where there was an abundance of green bark hanging down from limbs of trees, now there are snakes swinging from the ends of dry branches. Where the sky was made fragrant by the perfume of flowers, now there is a disagreeable odor from kites, doves, crows, etc. Where the earth was moist from trickles of juice from flowers, now there is dust hot as sand in a blazing fire-pit. Where there were trees bent with the burden of fruit, now the trees have fallen, devoured by ants at their roots. Where compounds were beautiful, enclosed by numerous vines, now these are dreadful with large snakeskins cast off by snakes. Where there were beautiful heaps of flowers under the trees, now there are immense thorns of the sthalaśṛngāta 22 which has grown up.
I considered, 'Just as this garden has become changed now, so all creatures in samsara (become changed). Such is the condition of samsara. The very one who is proud of his own beauty becomes a skeleton, consumed by terrible disease. The very one who is eloquent with clever speech in course of time suddenly becomes very tongue-tied with a stumbling tongue. The very one who walks like a high-bred horse with the power to move gracefully becomes lame, his walk broken by wind, etc. The one who is like Hastimalla 28 with a powerful hand becomes maimed, his hand powerless from disease, etc. The one who is like a vulture with the power to see far becomes blind, unable to see right in front of him. People's bodies, too, alas! are beautiful and ugly within a moment, capable
II
22 121. The Tribulus Lanuginosus, whose fruit is armed with 3 spines. Dutt, p. 125.
28 126. Indra's elephant.